File folder



1950 c. l. SCHWINGER 2,519,405

FILE FOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1945 4 15\ 15 25 7 i; 7| F E auvemfoz 14 14 Char/es [$chw/n5er C. l. SCHWINGER FILE FOLDER Filed Oct. 30, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 wucmrop 1 Hon Lego Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE FILE FOLDER Charles I. Schwinger, Berwyn, Md.

Application October 30, 1945, Serial No. 625,669

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 3 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a filin device and more particularly to a folder or file for containing records and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a folder or file having expansible pockets or retainers adapted to hold records and the like in a snug manner, and to prevent the data from falling out of the folder, while at the same time supporting the data so that it may be available for reference purposes without removing it -or the other data.

Another object is the provision in a device of the class described of expansible pockets for containing data and an expansible front wall member adapted to be retained in alignment with the body of the folder whether the pockets are full or empty or in any intermediate condition.

Another object of the invention is to provid a folder which may be used by lawyers, salesmen, etc., not only as a case for carrying various data but also to provide a filing space in cabinets whereby considerable space and saving may be had by the use of less filing cabinets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fold-er of the class described which is simple and cheap in construction, and easy to manufacture.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of certain features of construction and operation of parts which will hereinafter be described and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof the folder in open position showing the inside thereof, with expansible pockets;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the folder, with front and rear portions thereof separated from the expansible pockets of the folder;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming a gusset used in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional viewtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective sectional detail view of a portion of the folder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters are used to denote corresponding parts throughout, the file folder indicated generally by F may be made of 2 a central reinforcing sheet 5 which overlies and is adhesively united to the inner side of the wall panel 2, with the reinforcing sheet 5 extending from the bottom edge 6 of the wall panel 2 up to the hinge 4, thereby stiifcning the front wall portion 2 and causing it to remain rigid at all times. On the inner side of the reinforcin sheet '5 is a plurality of expansible pockets! formed of a wall panel 8 provided with a reinforcing sheet 9, both of which have curved indentations or recesses 10 on their upper longitudinal edges providing spaced upwardly projecting ribs II. The front portion 2 and wall panel 8 with their reinforcing sheets 5 and 9 are joined along the marginal portions of their sides and bottoms by means of a gusset 12, preferably of a bellows or accordionlike form as illustrated and is therefore expansible. The side ends [2' of the gusset I2 are provided with side marginal flanges I 3 and I3 and its bottom portion [4 is provided with marginal flanges I4. The side flanges I3 of the gusset 12 are adhesively united to and between the side marginal portions of the'front panel 2 and reinforcing sheet 5 and the side flanges l3 are adhesively united to and between the side marginal edges of the wall panel 8, and its reinforcing sheet 9, as more particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the flanges Won the bottom of the gusset l2 being adhesively secured to and between the bottom marginal portions of the front panel 2 and reinforcing sheet 5 and between panel 8 and its reinforcing sheet Q. The folder F is provided with corrugated expansible members I 5 providing transverse partitions which form sides of an expansible pocket I, with the sides 12' of the gusset 12 also forming sides of other pockets 1. These expansible partitions 15 extend in spaced relation vertically upward in alignment with the projecting ribs ll ofthe wall panel 8 and reinforcing sheet 9 and are adhesively united by inturned vertical marginal edges 15 to the reinforcing sheet 5 of the front panel 2 and the reinforcing sheet 9 of the wall panel 8. The expansible members l5 are provided at their lower ends with V-shaped notches l6 which engage with the plaitd bottom portion I ofthegussetfl.

A back panel or wall portion l? of the folder is providedwith an adhesively united reinforcing sheet 18, both 'of"whic'h a're united'by the fluted expansible member IQ, including marginal flanges '21] and 20" to'the'wall panelt, with the flange 20 of the eXpansibl-e member 59 being adhesively united to the lower marginal edge of the wall panel 8 and the flange 29' thereof being positioned between. the lower inside marginal edges of and adhesively united to the back panel I1 and its reinforcing sheet, I8.

'A paper fastener 2| of any suitable type and of any suitable material such as a metal Acco fastener is mounted in vertical-arranged holes 22 formed in one side of the back panel I1 and its reinforcing sheet [8.

Reinforcing strips 23 of any suitable material such as fabric are provided on the upper inner marginal edges of the sides of the gusset l2 and along the upper marginal edges of the fluted pocket partitions I5.

In order that the folder F may be used as an individual carrying case, it may be provided with any suitable standard means for securing the flap 3 to the back panel H. In the present case the securing means is illustrated as being in the form of a string 24 secured at one end to the flap 3, and adapted to be wrapped around the disc 25 mounted on the back panel H.

In operation, the data to be filed away in the folder or to be individually carried therein is placed in the expansible pockets 1 and 1". As the data accumulates in the pockets 1, the pockets are pushed out or expanded by means of the gusset l2 and the corrugated expansible partition members l5. With the fluted member l9 uniting the back panel I! and its reinforcing sheet l8 to the wall panel 8, the back panel I! is also caused to automatically expand, with the pockets 1 as the data is placed therein.

By means of the gusset 12 the front panel 2 of the folder F is kept in alignment with the wall I panel 8 as the pockets 1 are being filled with data, thereby avoiding any tendency of the front panel 2 from sagging out of line with the wall panel 8, which would produce an unsightly or awkward file, particularly where it is used for desk or like purposes where an attractive and practical file is desired. The paper fastener 2| permits sheets of correspondence and the like to be connected to the back panel I! of the folder and referred to, removed therefrom, or additional correspondence placed in the folder, with the fluted member 19 permitting the front portion of the folder to be pushed forwardly as the correspondence is placed on the fastener 2!.

To refer to any particular data placed in the pockets I of the folder it is not necessary to remove all of the data therefrom but only necessary to pick out the desired data by grasping the top of the data with the hand. The desired data may be inspected or removed from the pockets 1 without disturbing the other data. The curved indentations or recesses IU of the wall panel B and its reinforcing strip 9 permit the data to be inspected without lifting or pulling the data up to find the desired part thereof. The flap 3 on the front panel 2 of the folder is adapted to be closed over the pockets 1 and to extend a predetermined distance over the rear panel II where it may be secured thereto by the string 24- engaging the disc 25.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An envelope type record folder comprising an expansible envelope compartment including oppositely disposed panels, and accordion-pleated gussets connecting the panels and closing the panels on all sides except one to form an open envelope compartment, an additional fiat paperreceiving panel hingedly mounted on the envelope compartment exteriorly thereof along the lower edge only, said last hinge means comprising accordion-pleated gussets connecting the paper-receiving panel to the envelope compartment, the paper-receiving panel being adapted to receive papers without obstructing access to the envelope compartment, and a closure flap hingedly mounted on one of the envelope panels along the open edge thereof, the said flap being adapted to close selectively the envelope compartment only and the envelope compartment together with the paper-receiving panel.

2. A record folder comprising an envelope compartment having opposite panels, one of which panels is an outer panel, and another of which panels is an inner panel, accordion-pleated gussets connecting the panels, a substantially flat paper-receiving panel in addition to the panels of the envelope compartment, and expansible hinge means secured to the inner panel of the envelope compartment along the lower edge only, said last hinge means comprising accordion pleats also secured to the flat paper-receiving panel, whereby the said panel is adjustably connected to the envelope compartment, the envelope compartment being open along one side thereof, and a closure flap mounted on the outside panel of the envelope compartment adapted to close selectively, the envelope compartment only and both the envelope compartment and the paper-receiving panel.

3. A record folder comprising an envelope compartment having opposite panels, one of which panel is an outer panel, and another of which panels is an inner panel, accordion-pleated gussets connecting the panels, a substantially flat paper-receiving panel in addition to the panels of the envelope compartment, and expansible hinge means secured to the inner panel of the envelope compartmentalong the lower edge only, said last hinge means comprising accordion pleats also secured to the flat paper-receiving panel, whereby the said paper-receiving panel is adjustably connected to the envelope compartment while being independent thereof, the envelope compartment being open along a longitudinal side thereof opposite to the accordionpleated hinge, a closure flap mounted on the outside panel of the envelope compartment adapted to close, selectively, the'envelope compartment alone and the envelope compartment and the paper-receiving panel selectively, and paper fastening means secured to the paper-receiving panel adjacent to an end thereof enabling the securing of papers in flat position upon the panel, the papers being intermediate the panel and envelope compartment when the paper-receiving panel is closed.

CHARLES I. SCHWINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Great Britain Jan. 24, 1929 

